LONDON, Dec. 30 -- Dutchman Harrie Smolders captured the title of the ninth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2017/2018 Western European League at Mechelen in Belgium on Saturday.
Riding the 13-year-old gelding Zinius, he set an unbeatable target with a fearless run when fourth to go in a seven-horse jump-off.
Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann finished secodn and soared to the top of the league table. Italy's Luca de Lorenzo settled for third.
"I never won before at Mechelen and I really wanted to do it, so I was totally focused," said the 37-year-old Smolders. "When I got into the jump-off I just wanted to win, I was never riding for second place so I took the risk by taking a stride out to the last."
Smolders, who helped his country win the Nations Cup three months ago in Barcelona, added, "This is very special because I came here with all my family - my kids, my wife and my parents - it was an unforgettable moment and I'm very thankful to the crowd. The atmosphere here is always really intense and it gives us even more of a push to show what we can do."
As 2018 begins and with just four of the 13 Western European league qualifiers remaining, the next taking place in Leipzig, Germany, on January 21, Smolders has 25 points on the board and is 22nd on the standings.
"I wasn't planning to go to the Final in Paris but now we might have a meeting and set some new goals," he said. "I will do a few qualifiers anyway and I want to get Emerald out to a few shows, maybe get him ready by Gothenburg (in February) if I can. We will see, but this win is the perfect end to a great year for me."
体坛英语资讯:Federer loses to Djokovic in Miami ATP tennis semi
体坛英语资讯:Maradona slams talk of Argentine coaching team spat
体坛英语资讯:Inzaghi treble fires Milan to joint second
体坛英语资讯:Robinho cleared of rape charges
体坛英语资讯:Terry late winner keeps England on course for World Cup
体坛英语资讯:S. Williams upset in opening round of Andalucia Tennis Championships
体坛英语资讯:Teenager Azarenka beats Serena to win Miami WTA title
体坛英语资讯:Piturca sacked as Romanias national soccer team coach
体坛英语资讯:American cyclist Zwizanskiy wins Tour of Uruguay
体坛英语资讯:Hertha, Hamburg edge rivals to stay in Bundesliga title race
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid beats Valladolid 2-0
体坛英语资讯:Barcelona, Real Madrid both win again in Spains Primera Liga
体坛英语资讯:S Africas Wolmarans reaches quarterfinals at ATP Soweto Open
体坛英语资讯:British police searching for football match coin missile thrower
体坛英语资讯:Ballesteros offers thanks for his cancer recovery
体坛英语资讯:Jordon heads Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of fame, 2009
体坛英语资讯:Briton McIlroy leads teenage parade
体坛英语资讯:Venezuelan Valero contends title with Colombian Pitalua
体坛英语资讯:Djokovic enters quarterfinals, Kuznetsova makes semi in Miami tennis
体坛英语资讯:Messi denies he is the leader of Argentine national team
体坛英语资讯:Late Riera goal gives Spain key win in Turkey
体坛英语资讯:Robles plans 110m hurdles record at Czech Golden Spike again
体坛英语资讯:Ecuadorian footballer tests positive for marijuana
体坛英语资讯:Czech soccer head coach Rada dismissed
体坛英语资讯:Los Angeles Angles pitcher killed in car crash
体坛英语资讯:Kevin Garnett to miss final two regular season games
体坛英语资讯:Zheng focuses on results, not rankings
体坛英语资讯:Higuain believes Barcelona can win treble
体坛英语资讯:Chinese player tries luck in Argentine soccer club
体坛英语资讯:Chinese Guo wins womens keirin in track cycling worlds